Rein-holder.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. CONGER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

RElN-HOLDER.

$EECIFIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,951, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed December 26,1900. Serial No. 41,083. (No model.)-

To ztZZ whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. CoNGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak land, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,- and exact description of the same.-

The present invention relates to a certain new and useful rein-holder for attachment to whips whereby the reins may be secured and held while the driver leaves the vehicle. Ordinarily the reins are wound about the whip in order to hold the same; but the objection to such manner of securing the reins resides in the fact that the horse is liable to start off before the reins can be released or unwound. By uniting the rein-holder to the whip the reins may be readily released, while at the same time a holder is provided which may be used with different vehicles.

In order to comprehend the invention, reference mustbe had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a front View showing the reinholder attached to the whip-stock. Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder attached to'the whipstock. Fig. 3 is a similar view from the opposite side with the reins held therein. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional top plan view taken on line 00 00, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the ferrule-sections.

The holder comprises a ferrule, which in the present case is composed of sections A A, each section being semicylindrical, so that when brought together they will surround or embrace the whip-stock A By preference the section A is formed with a hook a at one edge,which hook fits through the vertical slots in the opposite section A,so as to form a hingejoint. Section A is formed with three slots 1 2 3, although any desired number may be made use of. The object of this style of hinge connection is to enable the diameter ofthe ferrule to be increased or decreased in accord ance with the size of the whip-stock to which it is to be fitted. In case the whip is of small diameter then the upturned hook it is fitted in slot 3, while if of large diameter it is fitted in slot 1, or in case the whip is a medium-size one then the hook at is fitted in slot 2. Each section is formed with an ear I), through which works a fastening-screw b. By means of this screw the hinged sections are brought together so as to embrace and bear firmly against the whip-stock. To give strength to the ears b,

they are cupped, as illustrated.

Section A is somewhat longer than section A, and the same is formed with a seat 19 for the coils of the spring-clamp B. This clamp in the present case consists of a single piece of wire bent into the desired shape, each arm of the clamp terminating in a coil d, the tension of which coils serves to hold the clamp firmly against the section A. The free end d of each coil fits within an opening d in the lower end of rib d on the face of section A..

This rib not only serves as a cover for the end of the coils, but also answers to bite into the reins held between the clamp B and section A in order to provide against the reins slipping through the clamp. The upper end portion B of the clamp is turned outward in order to form a guide fortheready insertion of the reins. Each sectionis stamped with a series of openings (2 The roughened edges of these openings answer as teeth, which bite into the whip-stock when the rein-holder is clamped thereon.

The rein-holder is secured to the whip at about a distance of eight inches from its lower end or at such a point as will place it aslight distance above the top of the whip-socket.

When the whip has become worn out, the holder may be detached therefrom by simply releasing the screw 1). Inasmuch as the holder is made detachable, it may be removed at pleasure without injury to the whip.

If desired, the holder maybe permanently secured to the whip during the manufacture thereof. In such case only the section carrying the clamp is employed, and said section is covered by the ferrule of the whip proper. Still I prefer to make the holder detachable, as before described.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the exact construction shown and described, for I am well aware that changes may be made without creating a departure from the invention.

The essential feature of the invention consists of the spring-clamp and of means where by the same is attached to the whip.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters .Patent, is- V 1. In a rein-holder, the combination with a whip, of aferrule fitted thereover and locked thereto having an elongated member, and a spring attached to said elongated member and overlying the same, adapted in conjunction therewith to constitute a clamp for the reins, substantially as described.

2. In a rein-holder, the combination with the whip, of a two-part ferrule fitted thereover and locked thereto, and a spring memand of a rein-clamp secured to one section of the ferrule.

4. In a rein-holder, the combination with the ferrule, of means whereby the same is clamped or attached to a whip, of a reinclamp secured to the ferrule, said clamp consisting of a single piece of wire bent into proper shape, the ends of said clamp being coiled into springs in order to hold the clamp pressed against the ferrule.

5. In a rein-holder, the combination with the ferrule comprising two hinged sections, of means for clamping the same to a. whip, of a rein-clamp secured to one section of the ferrule, said clamp consisting of a single piece of wire bent into proper shape, the ends of said clamp being coiled into springs in order to hold the clamp pressed against the ferrule, and of a seat formed with the section to which the clamp is secured and into which seat is held the spring-coils.

6. In a rein-holder the combination with a whip, of a holdersecured directly to the whip comprising a portion overlying the surface thereof, and a spring secured at approximately its lower end to said overlying portion and adapted in conjunction therewith to com stitute a clamp for the reins, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' CHARLES A. CONGER.

Witnesses:

N. A. ACKER, D. B. RICHARDS. 

